Cue the music.....Feelings.....nothing more than Feelings....

That's all they are....feelings.

The struggle is, we often let them define our experiences. We let them rule our actions. They have the power to dictate the outcome of our day, and, left unchecked, dictate the course of our lives.

What can we do then? We are affected by circumstances, by the actions of others, by our own choices, by life. And, in this day and age, our kids are told they should do what they feel, express themselves, no matter what they are feeling, its ok. Its validated.

There is a Proverb that says "Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs, than a fool in his folly."
Why? How can this be? Left to let our feelings rule our lives, we lead ourselves to folly. We rob ourselves of life. Of peace. Of health. Of well-being.

We all, at one time or another, will face struggles, disappointment, loneliness, loss, illness, pain, fear, rejection, anxiety...because we are human, and live in a world that is not perfect.

What then, can we do? Here is an exercise I practice (currently on a regular basis). For every feeling, I list it.

I feel anxious.

I feel overwhelmed.

I feel fear.

I feel depressed.

Then I look in the Bible until I find one (or several) Scripture that speaks truth to what I feel. I then say it over and over, or pray it until the Truth overcomes my feelings. (Sometimes I am comforted immediately and sometimes it takes time, but I continue to speak the Truth over what I feel)


I feel anxious.....Psalm 127:2 "It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones."
I Peter 5:7 " Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you."

I feel overwhelmed....Psalm 53:3 "There they were, overwhelmed with dread, when there was nothing to dread."
Isaiah 26:3 "Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee."

I feel fear... Isaiah 43 "Fear not, for I have redeemed you....when you go through fire, water, rivers, I will be with you...you are Mine" (paraphrased)

I feel depressed... I learn from the example of Elijah (the Prophet who became depressed I Kings 19) and Job (Job 10:1) and David in so many of the Psalms that depression is real. I love that in so many of the Psalms David cries out in anguish and yet ends with, "Yet I will praise Him" or he speaks to his soul, "Soul, why are you downcast, hope thou in God."

Like exercise (which I hate) profits my body, so this exercise profits my spirit.

Try it, it will work for you, too.

And, please, someone get this (Feelings) song out of my head!

I'm just sayin....

My Hero on TV

In a previous blog, I wrote about my sister who is a cancer survivor, and has become my hero. If you know anyone battling cancer or any serious health issue, I invite you to visit her website, read about her, and pass the word along.... http://cherylowenspatterson.org



On Thursday, she was on a Christian talk show. If you'd like to view her portion, click on this link http://www.harvest-tv.com/video/VOD_GetShow.cfm?ShowID=239

The news is just before her 10 minute segment.



Makes a sister proud....I'm just sayin....

October is for Women

It's already the 8th of October and I've not yet blogged about women and breast cancer. Shame on me. I was reminded of this just today when speaking with a new friend and discovering she was diagnosed at the same age as my sister...37!

I hope that you are checking yourself regularly, and if you have never done so, please schedule a mammogram. Here are some tips I received by email to help prepare you for your first mammogram.

Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, and even if they have had them before, there is fear. By taking a few minutes each day for a week preceding the exam and doing the following exercises, you will be totally prepared for the test, and best of all, you can do these simple practice exercises right in your own home!

EXERCISE 1: Open your refrigerator door, and insert one breast between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut as hard as possible and lean on the door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds. Repeat in case the first time wasn't effective.

EXERCISE 2: Visit your garage at 3 a.m. when the temperature of the cement floor is just perfect. Take off all your clothes and lie comfortably on the floor sideways with one breast wedged under the rear tire of the car. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled. Switch sides and repeat for the other breast.

EXERCISE 3: Freeze two metal bookends overnight. Strip to the waist. Invite a stranger into the room. Have the stranger press the bookends together as hard as she can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet again next year to do it again.

You are now properly prepared!

Women, please, be good to yourself, and to those you love, check yourself and get checked.

I'm just sayin...

I Don't Understand Skinny People

I was with a friend recently who said, "I don't know, I guess I just forgot to eat".


"Excuse me?!"


Now I have forgetten a lot of things, forgotten where I parked my car. Forgotten where I put my glasses, (oft times when they are on my face), forgotten where I parked my kids even, but I have neva forgotten to eat!





Does anyone else understand this?




In case I forget....
"Would someone please order me a cheese steak with fries and cawfee regula?"





I'm just sayin....

Jersey friends make the best kind....

My friend Marie, you know her...Italian...from Joisey... biggest heart around, everyone is family and in her kitchen, all are welcome and no one is a stranger.


Jersey people find each other.


Let me tell you how we met....


I am in an office building and a mutual friend says, "allow me to introduce you to Marie." She comes around her desk, extends her hand, and says "I'm Maria, so nice to meet you." Immediately, as only a Joisey girl can do, I cock my head and say "where you from" (I know that accent, or it dialect?)


She gets it....immediately.



"You mean ori-gi-na-lly?" (Can you just hear the strong North Jersey Italian accent?) Music to my soul, I tell you.


My response....not only are you from New Jersey, but you are from Bergen County."


We are instant friends. (All these years later, still friends who "get it")

When I arrive home, I call her the same day we've met.


"Marie, write this down and tell me how you say it?"


D-i-d y-o-u e-a-t y-e-t? (Proncounced......"Jeet yet?")


Her immediate response.....

"no, Ju?"

Marie, I'm countin on you for some good Joisey tawk....

So, for those that want to join, I'll see if my friend Natalie, will create a new Label called, "Tawk Amongst Yourselves" and will add the comments you all add that have to do with New Jersey!

I'm just Jersey sayin.....

Under the Circumstances

There was a man I would greet every Sunday morning at church. I would say "hello, how ya doin?"


His response was always the same...."well, under the circumstances"....and go on to tell me he was fine or had a good day at work, or the family was planning a trip."


I was always puzzled why he started every greeting that way and began to picture Eeyore's face(since their voices were much the same) when he spoke.


One day I heard myself say the following...


"Hi, (John, not his name, of course) how ya doin?"


And as always, "Well, under the circumstances...."

I heard myself blurt out, "Well, what are you living under there for?!"


I've thought of that many times when I'm going through tough things. I have a choice, to live "under the circumstances" or in spite of them. I choose to live joyfully in spite of them. Is it easy, not always. Do I fake it? Sometimes. But it takes a lot less toll on me in the long run if I choose not to live "under the circumstances."


I'm just sayin....

Imagine that?! My Hero is From Joisey

I have a hero.

It's a woman.

Strong.

Courageous.

Brave.

Fun.



I love that she lives every moment to the fullest. I've never known anyone who lives this way like she does. Whether its a breeze that cools the evening, a herd of cows that may want her Miata to stop and pay them a visit, a road that calls her name to explore what lies ahead. Whether its jumping out of plane to overcome her fear of flying or learning to swim at an age when many would give up. She is my hero.


She has faced terminal cancer and lived to tell the story, against the odds. She chose not to accept the certain death sentence the professionals uttered, and chose to live life to the fullest, one day at a time, with long life ahead of her and a secure eternity certain. She is my hero.


She is not an author, but she wrote a book. She is not a public speaker, but she will be featured on a Christian televsion station in just a few days to tell her story. (Harvest TV Show - She'll be appearing (live) on Thursday, October 4th between 9-10AM EST. It's a short 7-10 minute segment. I am told you can also view the show via your computer by accessing http://www.harvest-tv.com/.) She is my hero.


Her adult son writes about her book Healing in Its Wings... (on Amazon.com):

For those who are experiencing patient-dom for the first time, this book is for you. It captured the feelings of helplessness and despair that accompany any negative medical diagnosis, while encouraging the reader to cling to the Hope that was clearly the largest source of strength for the author. Using her own experiences, she also exposes some of the many injustices currently taking place in American medicine.

The book is written in a very down-to-earth style, and the reader is constantly assured of the author's humanness, humor and faith. I'd highly recommend this book to those in any stage of sickness, or those with sick loved ones who would like perspective on what the American patient is up against.


She is my hero. Please visit her web site, buy her book for you or for someone you know. You'll be glad you did.


I'm just sayin....